Greater Scioto Valley Emmaus
February, 2005 Volume 11, Issue 2
The view from here...
Three
thousand, fifty-three...and counting. That is the number of my Fourth Days
since my Emmaus Walk (Sept. 1996). Last week at Gathering I shared how vividly
I remember that experience after all this time. I am quite analytical in
nature, so in the time following that whirlwind weekend, I sought to glean
every understanding possible from this field so rich with experiences.
Apart
from the purposeful flow of the Walk weekend and my spiritual renewal, I was
most amazed at how everything was always in its place, always prepared, always
set-up, always torn down, always clean, always available, always delivered on
time...or at least that was my perception.
As
I contemplated the logistics of orchestrating all that occurred during the
weekend, I quickly realized that this was not a "one person" show. How many
people did it take to prepare all that food, make and distribute all that
agape, clean the restrooms and meeting rooms, set up/tear down special events?
How many people are involved in registration, newsletter production, prayer
vigils, speakers, special music, keeping the books, maintaining records,
conducting Community business, obtaining new pilgrims?
Now,
after serving our Community for nine years, I know that hosting a Walk requires
hundreds of people sacrificing thousands of hours and offering up uncountable
prayers, all in a spirit of cooperation, charity, and humility. They serve
because, "Christ came, not to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45)" - and He
asks us to do the same.
Emmaus
functions through the concept of progressive servant hood. Following the most
awesome weekend of my life, I learned that I could and should return to serve the
community so that others might share what I experienced. Remember Jesus saying
in Mat. 10:8, "Freely you have been given, now freely give?" As I returned to
help in the kitchen, clean toilets, pray, and sponsor pilgrims, I learned more
about the community and how they all pitch in to do the work. As I displayed a
willingness to serve, I found myself being invited to serve on a Walk Weekend
Team...WOW! What a rush, but I still clean toilets, cook, and pray. After serving
on several teams, you, the community, asked me to serve as the computer geek on
the Board. This year the Board selected me to serve as Lay Director for the
April 2005 Men's Walk, and elected me as Board Chair (I must be nuts)! But I
still clean toilets and cook, and pray. One
day soon I shall no longer be eligible to serve on a team in this community. I
will rotate off the Board and the computer guru torch will pass to a new geek.
But as long as the Lord gives me the means, I will still be cooking, cleaning,
praying, and sponsoring. May I never forget how wonderful my Walk Weekend was
because Emmaus brothers and sisters gave selflessly that I might want for
nothing as I walked with Christ that weekend. Remember, "Christ is counting on
you!"
De Colores! Kevin Pancake
Psalm 27:131
I had fainted ,
unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the
living.
Several years ago we went on a family trip to Texas. Marie, my
mother-in-law, was involved in a garden club. She noticed a tall plant that looked like a weed to me.
Marie said that the plant would make a nice filler and add height to an
arrangement that she was working on in Ohio. On the last day of our trip I cut
as much of the plant that I could and stuffed it in the trunk of the car.
After
driving two days we pulled into my in-laws' driveway and we noticed that the
same plant growing at the entrance to the drive! The exact plant that was so
attractive in Texas had been overlooked at home!
God's
blessings are all around us. Be sure to notice the goodness of God in all the
places that you are —
especially in your own backyard.
He loves us so much that He put these blessings before us to remind us
He is everywhere at all times!
In
His Service,
Phil
Howard
Leadership Training Session
Saturday, May 21st, 2005
8:00 a.m.— 4:00 p.m.
Trinity United Methodist Church
Join us for an exciting, informative day all about Emmaus! Re-live some of your own weekend with
fellowship, communion, lunch, praise and prayer.
This experience is open to anyone who has
participated in an Emmaus Walk, Chrysalis Flight, or Cursillo.
Want to be involved in the leadership team
in the future? You are strongly
encouraged to attend this session.
Sponsoring someone for the first or fortieth time? This is an awesome opportunity to learn
your responsibilities.
Training Session will pre-empt the
monthly gathering.
Reservations are not required, but
encouraged; lunch is included —
Contact Diana Hall at 740-335-4361 or via e-mail, rdj_hall@ameritech.net
by May 15th to reserve your spot.
Monthly Gatherings are held the Third Thursday of each month. The next gathering will be Thursday,
February 17th at 7:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist
Church. Plan on attending and
bring a friend!
Women's Walk #33
February 10-13, 2005
Men's Walk #23
April 14-17, 2005
Women's Walk #34
June 9-12, 2005
Men's Walk #24
September 8-11, 2005
Women's Walk #35
October 13-16, 2005
SPECIAL TIMES AND OTHER INFORMATION FOR
THE WALK WEEKEND
Pilgrims to arrive at Trinity: Thursday,
February 10th between 6:15 and 6:30 p.m.
Send Off, Sponsor's Hour and Prayer
Chapel: Thursday, February 10th at 7:30 p.m.
Candlelight: Saturday,
February 12th at 8:30 p.m.
Closing: Sunday, February 13th at 5:oo p.m.
Participation in these services is limited to
those who have participated in the Walk to Emmaus, Cursillo or Chrysalis. Child care will NOT be available
for any of these services — please make other arrangements for your
children.
TO SIGN UP TO WORK IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS,
CONTACT THE BOARD REPRESENTATIVE LISTED ON THE ON-LINE BOARD ROSTER OR CHECK
THE WEBSITE (www.gsvemmaus.org):
Kitchen: Tom Dishong* or Dale Stevens*
Housekeeping: Denise
Kern*Neil Foster or Mark Cope
Prayer Vigil: Kevin
Pancake* or Denise Kiger (Walk Lay Director)
*All board phone numbers and e-mail
addresses are on the website